Avalo Therapeutics Expands Leadership Team, Appoints Kevin R. Lind To Its Board of Directors

Avalo Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing IL-1β-based therapies for immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, has announced the appointment of Kevin R. Lind to its Board of Directors. Lind brings more than two decades of expertise in capital markets, corporate strategy, business development, and building successful companies. Most recently, he played a key role in guiding Longboard Pharmaceuticals to a multi-billion-dollar acquisition.

Michael Heffernan, Chairman of Avalo’s Board, said the appointment comes at a critical time as the company advances its Phase 2 LOTUS trial of AVTX-009 for hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), with topline data expected in the middle of next year. Heffernan noted that Lind has a proven ability to deliver value to shareholders through effective financial strategy and business development, and he expressed confidence that Avalo will benefit greatly from his leadership and insight.

In his statement, Lind expressed enthusiasm about joining Avalo. He highlighted his career-long focus on building life science companies that translate promising science into meaningful outcomes for patients. He described HS as one of the most rapidly growing and exciting therapeutic areas in inflammation and immunology, presenting significant opportunities to meet urgent patient needs. Lind said Avalo’s AVTX-009 has the potential to become a leading treatment in this area, and he looks forward to applying his experience to help Avalo achieve its mission of delivering transformative medicines.

Lind’s background includes serving as President, Chief Executive Officer, and Board Member of Longboard Pharmaceuticals, where he transformed the company into a neurology leader and oversaw its $2.6 billion acquisition by H. Lundbeck A/S in 2024. Before that, he was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Arena Pharmaceuticals, where he played a key role in its turnaround, established successful business development partnerships, and managed the spinout of Longboard in 2020. Over the course of his career, Lind has raised over one billion dollars to fund innovative biotech companies.

He began his career in investment banking at Lehman Brothers before joining TPG, where he specialized in healthcare investments. In addition to his new role with Avalo, Lind currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Apnimed, Inc. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences from Stanford University and an MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management.